FrontPage Stories

Juror Number Eleven Speaks on the Issues That Convicted Councilmen

By Raymond R. Beltrán

Seven o’clock Wednesday morning, Robert Varela delved back into the regular grind of buttoning up his brown uniform, jumping into those box-shaped trucks, and shipping packages for the United Parcel Service. To anyone else, it’s just another day, but to him it’s barely the second day after his two-month long civic duty as juror eleven in one of San Diego’s most prominent grand jury indictments in the city’s history, indictments that ultimately led to the conviction of former San Diego City Councilmen Ralph Inzunza and Michael Zucchet for wire fraud conspiracy, corruption, and extortion.

Ralph Inzunza. File Photo.

“I’m just glad the whole thing’s over. I’m ready to move on with my life,” said 32-year-old Varela. “It’s such an enormous responsibility, you know.”

‘Disheartened’ and ‘saddened’ are the words he uses to express his feelings toward the guilty verdict, but that’s because he admits that even though he was on the jury, he is still a San Diegan and this is his city too.

To consolidate the jury’s findings that led to the guilty verdict, they found that the councilmen were accepting campaign moneys equaling $23,150 in contributions and $18,000 in cash from a Las Vegas lobbyist named Lance Malone, who represented a Las Vegas strip club owner by the name of Michael Galardi. The quid pro quo? That the councilmen would push to put strip club restrictions, specifically the No Touch Law binding club goers’ from touching dancers, on the city council docket and ultimately try to get it repealed in the meetings.

So, who did what and what was provided the jury that the city councilmen were found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt? Varela sat down with La Prensa San Diego and touched on a few significant topics that he felt led the jury to what he stated was a ‘right and just decision.’

La Prensa: Talk a little bit about the task of the jury and the level of security or insecurity there was in coming out with a guilty verdict.

Protests, Polemics and Proposals at Border Governors’ Meet
Gathered in the old northern Mexican cotton-growing capital of Torreon, Coahuila, governors and their representatives from the 10 U.S.-Mexico border states concluded their annual conference this past weekend (July 16-17, 2005). Meeting during an increasingly charged atmosphere along their common frontier, the states’ chief executives issued proposals for border security, law enforcement, environmental regulation, and education. While not endorsing any specific reform, the governors called for the promotion of legal immigration and respect for the law in both Mexico and the United States.

López Obrador’s Presidential Bid at a Time of Doubt for Mexican PoliticsBy Hampden MacbethAfter surviving an impeachment challenge earlier this year, the popular mayor of Mexico City, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has emerged as the frontrunner in Mexico’s 2006 presidential election and has since announced that he will resign his post at the end of July to formally seek the presidency. At a time in which Vicente Fox’s legacy is being pessimistically assessed as he finds himself knee-deep in a lame-duck presidency, López Obrador’s candidacy offers an interesting narrative on some components of contemporary Mexican politics.

Latinos Disappointed, Still Holding Out Hope for a Hispanic Nominee
President Bush’s nomination of John G. Roberts to replace Sandra Day O’Connor as the next Supreme Court justice was met with surprise and disappointment by many Latino civic leaders who hoped that the president would take this opportunity to make history by nominating the first Hispanic judge.

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Responds to Roberts Nomination to Supreme CourtWashington, DC  Following President George W. Bush nomination of Judge John G. Roberts to the U.S. Supreme Court, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) expressed disappointment that the President did not nominate a Latino to fill the seat to be vacated by Associate Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. The CHC previously called on the President to fill the vacancy with a qualified Hispanic dedicated to equal justice and a judicial system that is fair to the Latino community.

National City Middle School Dominates Once AgainOnce again National City Middle School dominated the Exploratory Technology category at the San Diego County Fair with 31 awards, topping last year’s total of 25 awards, with 16 First Place awards; eight 2nd place awards; 6 Best of Class; 1 Best of Show. All the students who took part in the competition were 8th graders and are part of the Midle School’s Exploratory Technology program.

Editorials

Editorial:Ralph Inzunza and Michael Zucchet Convictions: A tragedy for all concernedCouncilmember’s Ralph Inzunza, Jr., and Michael Zucchet were found guilty of conspiracy, extortion, and wire fraud while serving as Councilmember’s for the City of San Diego by a Jury that found the evidence overwhelming. When all the legal wrangling is done and sentencing is carried out there is a good chance that these two men will spend time in jail.

Commentary:Suzie Peña Killing Should Unite, Not Divide, Blacks and LatinosBy Earl Ofari HutchinsonThe instant LAPD officers gunned down 13-year-old Devin Brown following a car chase last February, blacks took to the streets in rage and protest. Black leaders loudly demanded that the officer who shot Brown be fired and prosecuted. Blacks’ furious reaction to the Brown killing stands in stark contrast to their response to the recent the killing of 19-month-old Suzie Marie Peña.

CommentarySan Diegans Support Proposition ABy Philip ThalheimerWhen the City Council unwisely voted 5-3 to decline the offer of the federal government to turn the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial into a national monument protected under the Constitution of the United States, the people of San Diego decided enough was enough. In just four short weeks, the voters of this great citypeople from all walks of life, political backgrounds and religious beliefssuccessfully concluded the largest, most successful referendum petition drive in San Diego history by collecting a record 73,000 certifiable signatures. The City Council could not ignore the established will of the people, and on May 17 chose to let the future of the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial rest with the voters by placing the issue on the upcoming mayoral ballot.

The Public Forum . . . El Foro PúblicoEpilepsy, an important and treatable issue for the Hispanic community
Thank you for your recent “Columna Vertebral” on epilepsy (published July 1, 2005), an important and treatable medical condition which affects Latinos of all ages. People with epilepsy, their families or their employers can get help for the many facets of epilepsy by calling the bilingual staff at the Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County at 619-296-0161. Their website is www.epilepsysandiego.org.

El Muerto LivesBy Ana Hernandez-BravoThe San Diego Comic Con International is the meeting place for both established names in the comic book industry and those who are just breaking through. As the San Diego Convention center buzzed with excitement, wonder, and joyful exploration, the artists and writers proudly displayed the fruits of their labor.

Embodiment of Norteño LandscapesReview of The Devil’s Highway by Luis Alberto UrreaBy Elena EspinozaThe Devil’s Highway (2004) by Luis Alberto Urrea, is a true story that uncovers the multi-varied systems of corruption that sustains the machiavellian nature of the United States present immigration policies. It is the story of 26 men that travel from the interior of Mexico in search of the green gold with the aid of shark loans-enganchadores, displaced truths fed by the media-coyotes, and labor systems-meatpacking plants that assist in the importation and exportation of human labor.

San Diego To Experience Mariachi Under the StarsSeventh Annual Music Extravaganza to Feature Famed Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán
For the seventh consecutive year, San Diego music lovers will have the unique opportunity to hear Mexico’s most beautiful musical export under the Southern California summer skies. Presented as “Music Under the Stars” by the San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SDCHCC), the seventh annual “¡Viva El Mariachi!” Festival will once again showcase the world’s best mariachi groups in what has become one of the city’s premiere cultural events.

Parra Providing his Boxing Knowledge to the Next GenerationBy John Philip WyllieFormer California Bantamweight Boxing Champion “Bumpy” Parra enjoyed a highly successful professional career from 1962-1968. At one point, the San Ysidro native was the leading contender for the world title. Now 66, his days in the ring are long behind him, but Parra’s enthusiasm for the sport has never waned. Neither has his interest in helping those in the local Latino community.

Next in Line Full Card Fight ReviewBy Greg GoodrichSaturday night at the MCM Grand Garden Arena, history was made and as usual controversy was on display. Upstart, Middleweight heir apparent Jermain Taylor (24-0) defeated longtime reigning champion Bernard Hopkins (46-3-1) via 12 Round Split Decision to claim the World Middleweight title, as well as annex the four major sanctioning body titles from the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO in the process. Taylor joins Hopkins as the only man to accomplish such a feat, though Thomas Hearns and Oscar De La Hoya have come closest to matching the quintessential accomplishment.

Bullfight WorldBy Lyn SherwoodAn Old Star, A Bright Star, and A New Star On Tap In Tijuana
A grab bag of toreros is on tap, July 31, in Plaza El Toreo de Tijuana. Manolo Arruza, who retired, several years ago, and is on the comeback trail, heads a card that also features current star Eulalio López “El Zotoluco” and an up-and-comer, Juan Antonio Adame, facing a herd of bulls from the Marrón ranch.

Guerra’s Triumph Over Adversity Benefits Surf Dawgs
By John Philip Wyllie
In 2003, during his junior year at San Jose State USDHS alumnus Nick Guerra was faced with a double whammy. First, one of his closest friends unexpectedly passed away. Then, in the same week the promising star catcher blew out the elbow on his throwing arm. It was a lot to deal with for a 22-year old and at first Guerra didn’t handle it well.